Composite photography



Feb. 11, 1936. v w, c A 2,030,300

I COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 25, 1953 ATTORN Patented Feb. 11,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics oomosrrztzxroomm I j m 'w. Jackman,Beverly nun, asslgnor m mine New York. N. 1.,

4 Claims.

scene.

it An object of the invention is to provide a projccied background scenewhich is quite extensive in size, without however employing a screenlarger than the ones ordinarily used. This is accomplished bysubdividing a background scene into units or sections, each of which isseparately photographed to prepare positive prints for use later inmaking the composite picture. Each of these photographs represents adifferent angular view of a panorama and the units of the panorama areso photographed that stage scenery or natural objects can be employed toconceal the adjacent edges of the projected units. In making thecomposite picture, there is provided an array 01' translucent screensarranged on a base line which maybe a straight line or a curve asdesired, each screen having its own projector, and the space between theedges of adjacent screens being filled with stage scenery or otherobjects which conform to the scenes projected on the screens. Theseveral projectors are operated in synchronism with each other and withthe camera which may be mounted on a daily and trucked to successivelyscan the various screens and sets as well as the action taking placebefore the screens and/or the sets. Ii. desired, the camera maysimultaneously photograph a plurality of the screens with the actiontaking place before one or both of them or before the adjoining set. Inthis way. an extensive background scene is provided without employingscreens (or projected background scenes) of undue size.

I'br further details of the invention reference may be made to thedrawing wherein:

Pig. 1 is a schematic view of a photographing arrangement according tothe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of, electrical means which may beemployed to drive the various projectors and the camera in synchronism..65 Merringtol'lg. Lthereis arrangedonabase line, which herein isillustrated as being curved. but which may be straight, a series offull-aimed sets I, 2, 3, 4 interspersed with translucent screens 5, 6,1, 8. Each such screen is provided with a projector 9, it, i i, II,respectively, which 5 projects, as above. described, a unit of thebackground scene onto its screen, the unit of the background thusprojected correlating with and supplementing the full-sized adjacentsets. Any desired foreground action such as an actor or the 10 like, andrepresented by the star It, takes place at any desired point or pointsin front of the composite background scene furnished by the sets i, 2,3, l and the screens 5, 6, I, I. The foreground action i3 thus arrangedis photographed '15 by the camera it which is mounted on a dolly I!which may be trucked to successively scan the various portions of thecomposite background scene, I to 8 inclusive, and the action takingplace before it. I

In order to drive the him through the camera It in synchronism with thefilms driven through the projectors 9, l0, II, II, these elements areprovided with a suitable synchronous coupling. For example, as furthershown in Fig. 2, the 26 camera It and the projectors 9 to It, inclusive,are driven respectively by synchronous motors l4 and 9' to I! inclusive.It will be understood that the electrical connections between thesevarious motors are in the form of flexible cables, 30 particularly toallow the camera it to travel along the path indicated in Fig. 1 oralong any other suitable path. These motors, It and l' to it, areillustrated as three-phase motors, the slip rings of which are connectedtogether and to the 35 slip rings oifv the distributor it which sets-thepace for the various motors and which in turn is driven by a constantspeed D. C. motor II. The three-phase field windings of all the motorsi4 and 9 to I! and of distributor II are sup- 40 plied with current froma suitable three-phase line It. It seems unnecessary to describe thethree-phase interlock system in Fig. 2 in further detail as this circuitarrangement is well understoodintheartand hasbeen commonly usedto 4drive a camera and a sound recorder in synchronism.

The camera I4 is threaded with high speed film as described inapplication, Serial Number 538,718, filed May 20, 1931 by W. E. Beatty.All) 50 the translucent screens 5, 6, I and 0 are provided with a watersoluble translucent coating as described and claimed in applicationSerial Number 561,871, flied September 9, 1931 by applicant. Thiscoating may taper in thickness from thethescreenandtoprovideaprojectedplctureof scenesuchassetuniformlightintensityasdescribedintheabove actionitmovcs'outoftheileiofviewofthe mentioned application. The following coatin camera whichthereupon or later picks up material, which may be sprayed on thescreen, action in front of another portion thecomgivesgoodresults:onepoundofriceflourisdispositebackgroundscene.

solved slowly in one-half 'of a bucket (a-gallon Having thus describedthe inventim, what is bucket) ofwarmwater. Afterthisisthoroughlyclaimetduasnewand desiredtosecurebylctters thin paint,- add one-halfpint ofa pigment such 1. The method of photographically producing aswhiting, and stir well. Then add one-half a composite picture whichcompl'isesvdmllltmepint of condensed milk, preferably "Pet brand. ouslyprojecting motion pictures representing'lhemixtureshouldbewellstirredand should uppl m nt portionsoi'abackgroundscme havethe consistency of paint suitable for sprayonto aseries of different translucent screens ma ing. The cy can becontrolled, of course, terially separated to provide spaces forcorrelated by ying the amolmt of water in the mixture. portions ofactual scenery. said screen scenes and A number of such coats, such asfive or six, should scenery forming a large background area for conbeapplied. each coat being allowed to dry before tinuous foreground actionand synchronously applying the next coat. The drying may be astherewithphotographing said screens and said 1 sisted by means of an electric fanto direct a portions of actual scenery sequentially while said currentof air on the coating, and in this case foreground action takes place infront thereof. each coating will become dry in from ten to -2. Apparatusfor photographically producing fifteen minutes or more, depending uponthe tema composite picture of a foreground and a back- Deratureandhumidity of the air. ground, said background comprising a plurality Alsothis hot spot can be reduced by trucking of separated translucentscreens with portions of the camera it across the front of each screensupplementary scenery interposed between said in such a way that theoptical axis of the camera screens to form an extended continuous back-II is inclined to the optical axes of the projector. ground. a projectorfor each of said screens for It will be understood that the action I! isprojecting correlated background scenes ap- 3 illuminated with lightswhich are not shown and propriate to said portions of supplementarywhich are so disposed and shielded as to keep all scenery thereon, acamera, said screens and suplight possible from falling on the screen orscreens plementary scenery extending beyond the field of I, i, I, I.these action lights being incandescent the lens of said camera, meansfor moving said lamps which illuminate the action it. so that thecamerato photograph successive portions of said intensity thereof iscomparable with the intensity background while said foreground is infront of of the picture projected on the screen. Also, the saidbackground, and means for operating said sets i. 2, I, I are suitablyilluminated with incamera and said projectors in sync candescent lampsnot illustrated. 3. A method of photography which comprises It will beapparent that various modifications Projecting motion picturesrepresenting cons; 4i may be made in the invention: for example, aslated portions of a background scene onto a above described; the cameraIt may simultaneof projection screens conjoined with portions of ouslyphotograph two or more of the projected actual scenery to form anelongated composite back ground scenes with suitable foregroundacbackground; arranging a motion picture camera tion in front thereof,instead of being trucked to with relation to said background so thatsaid 45 photograph the projected background scenes and backgroundextends beyond the held of said correlated sequentially. Also a simplertype camera, and moving said camera to photograph of synchronouscoupling, such as single-phase successive portions of said background,while proprojectors and camera in synchronism. Also the camerainsynchronism. 50

screens may be arranged one above the other. the 4. Photographicapparatus comprising a camera being mounted on a crane or elevator toplurality of separated screens, a motion picture scan the screenssequentially. Also the sets, proprojector for each of said screens forprojecting jected pictures and action may be in miniature, supplementarymotion picture'backgroimd scenes the action in this case being forexample, a miniathereon, sections of supplementary scenery inter- 55ture automobile, train or the like. Also the posed between said screensto form a continuous Also the action if, such as an actor the lens ofsaid camera, means for operating said

